Mindfulness, which is an essential part of the Hakomi method, is a state of conscious self-inquiry — a practice of presence, where attention is directed to the here and now. Sensations, bodily feelings, memories, emotions, and thoughts are met as they are, not as we wish them to be. The work is grounded in a shared and bi-directional mindfulness between two people — the therapist and the client. In Hakomi, this is known as guided self-study.

Mindfulness refers to a heightened non-judgmental awareness in the experiences of the present moment such as body sensations, thoughts, or emotions. Long-lasting mindfulness meditation practice helps to enhance attention control, emotion regulation, and self-awareness, and thus, mindfulness practices have been increasingly incorporated into coaching or psychotherapeutic interventions.